Sustainability is never out of the news at the moment. Are you a fossil fool? The solution is less pollution. There is no Planet B. As the world population grows, so does the pressure on our resources. We need an environment and food chain that can continue to function and deliver for the 7.7 billion who live on planet earth, …
In 1999 I helped set up the advertising agency, Miles Calcraft Briginshaw Duffy. I know, not the snappiest name ever, but at least it did what it said on the tin. When a client came in to see MCBD, they got M, C, B and D. When we opened the agency doors we were inundated with calls from prospective clients. …
A fundamental question for all owners – when is the right time to sell your business? The answer to this age-old question is this – the time to sell is when someone else is willing to invest more in your company than you are. When you start a business, nobody is willing to invest in its success more than you. …
As an owner you want your business to make you money. But ask yourself does your business make you happy? It’s a question we ask owners, and all too often the answer is ‘no.’ Take the case of Gavin Rebello. He’d set up a successful optician business, but he didn’t just want financial rewards, he wanted a better quality of …
The idea of exiting may seem far off, and all of your efforts are going into scaling your business. But there are good reasons why it pays to be exit ready. What if you grow tired of your business, or you can’t carry on because of illness, or a key member of your team leaves or someone makes you an …
There are many things in life you can fall in love with. Your partner, your dog, a particular song, a beautiful location, a sports team. But can you add your business to this list? You probably loved it once. After all, who sets up a business they hate? You were excited by the idea you came up with, you dreamed …
A man called Ingvar Kamprad had the idea to sell furniture you assemble yourself. His company – IKEA. James Dyson came up with the concept of bagless vacuum cleaners. The rest is history. Michael Dell discovered a way to miss out the middlemen and sell computers direct to consumers. The company is called Dell. Nick Woodman wanted to help surfers …
Sector: Food and Beverage – Hand roasted coffee shops. Challenge: Raising cash to grow and differentiate in a competitive market that the banks and accountants did not understand. In 2017 Leonardo da Vinci’s Salvator Mundi sold for $450m. It’s the most expensive painting ever. You may feel it’s somewhat over-priced, but in the rarified world of art, if someone …
Leads, prospects, customers. Where would you be without them? In big trouble. That’s why the mantras – “Sell, sell, sell”, “Show me the money,” “Go big or go home” are so popular in business. They’ve become the war cry of many a Sales and Marketing Director, often just after the board meeting when their targets have been increased to hit …